Adrien Leroy eBook

Alas! for the irony of fate! This day, during
which he had strenuously endeavoured to forget Constance,
had only shown him more plainly the utter impossibility
of doing so. If he had but known the opportunity
he had missed with that letter, his mortification
and despair would have been even greater.

Constance had regretted her policy in sending Adrien
from her almost before the day was over, and had purposely
planned this way of seeing him. Deeming his outing—­thanks
to Jasper’s clever insinuations—­to
have been undertaken on purpose to avoid her, the
girl’s heart was heavy within her, and filled
with something very like resentment too.

Adrien, on the other hand, all unwitting of the harm
this excursion had done his cause, had talked long
and quietly with Lady Merivale. He had made up
his mind to break away even from these silken strings.

“So you have determined to leave me?”
she said sadly.

He nodded.

“You know I must,” he replied. “For
your sake, as well as mine, it is best.”

“Perhaps you are right,” she said in a
low voice. “So this is the last happy day
we shall spend together?”

“Yes,” he answered with a sigh. “Now,
standing here, I see only too well that we ought never
to have spent any at all. I dread lest I have
spoilt your happiness, Eveline, lest a breath of slander
should touch your name. I will not deny that
I had of late hoped to marry and settle down as my
father wishes, but it is not to be. Don’t
laugh at me when I tell you I am going to turn over
a new leaf. After this ball at Barminster, I
shall go abroad for awhile. That will give the
world time to forget we have ever had more than a
passing acquaintance.”

Tears rolled down Eveline’s face as she listened
to his words. She had played her last card, and
she knew the game was lost; though it was her vanity
that suffered more than her heart. She was too
clever and too proud to resist any further, however,
or sue for his favour. Presently she rose, and
said, as steadily as usual:

“Come, Adrien, let us turn down stream and retrace
our way while we can see. It is dusk already—­I
had no idea it had grown so late.”

He helped her into the little skiff in silence; and
as the Sea Foam glided over the rippling waters a
profound stillness seemed to descend over the darkening
landscape.

Presently Lady Merivale peered forward.

“This half-light is so deceptive,” she
said, in a rather nervous voice; “I nearly steered
you into the bank then.”

“Can you see?” he asked. “Put
down the lines and let me guide the boat.”

“No, no,” she replied. “I can
see well enough.”

“Just as you like,” he said gently.
“I will row quicker. It’s time we
were in Hampton. For what hour did you order the
car?”

“I came by train,” she answered.

“I have my motor,” said Leroy; “I
suppose you would not return in that?”